Sony rootkit fiasco: What's mine? What's yours?

What rights do consumers have over their computers? C|NET News.com asks are relatively simple question in light of Sony's root kit fiasco. Wired News has this comprehensive story on the issues at stake. The company has since acknowledged the mistake but because most computers, even those owned by the employer, quickly attract software and applications unrelated to work, who-owns-what is also an increasingly important issue to the average networked employee.

[Update: found this related link at BusinessWeek's Blogspotting just after posting this]

Most personal computer users regard their PC as theirs. Like cell phones, the devices may have personal email, third party applications and contact information for friends and family. Unlike cell phones, personal computers are still far more likely to have been purchased by the employer. Most, perhaps the vast majority of employers disregard discreet activity, at least until some scooped up piece of adware or malware is discovered roaming the LAN.

I think there are some clear issues at stake. State government, for example, has a vital stake in the functioning of the network supporting state government, but not necessarily in the device connected to that network. A trade off whereby the employee, and in particular the knowledge worker who leans heavily on her computer, can use it -- perhaps culminating in an option to buy the equipment in cases where state government made the initial purchase -- should prevail so long as the individual avoids harming network performance or other users.

There are several reasons why I think this is so.

Technically, we're quickly heading toward a persistent and always-on networked world. Like smart phones, what the employee chooses to buy and use will likely be of far less future consequence, particularly as network protocols and languages like IP and XML supersede file and operating system standards like .doc and Windows. There is less need to make the personal computer a good network performer and consequently less direct interaction with individual computers.

By its nature the Internet is becoming an information utility answerable to individuals, making user-selected and user-controlled information as close as the next hot spot or electric outlet. Syndication and XML put users in charge.

Customization of the computing environment is something professionals will increasingly insist upon. Likewise professional development makes a lighter central touch necessary -- few professionals want to work where hardware choices are dictated.

Lastly, the explosion in storage and caching capabilities, mentioned yesterday, makes it less and less likely that (legal) personal computing choices can bog down the network with extraneous activity.

In 2005, the company piqued the interest of long-time customer, Mark Wattles, the founder of Hollywood Video. Mark recognized the great potential for Ultimate Electronics and purchased it with the hope of expanding the concept and growing the chain, much like he did with Hollywood Video. Under Mark's leadership, Hollywood Video grew to become an industry leader with more than 1,300 Hollywood Video superstores and more than 550 Game Crazy specialty retail outlets nationwide.

I think the issues discussed here is very relevant as many users treated their personal computer as their own maternity sleepwear. There are issues regarding malware and adware that should be taken note of as many employees are surfing the net during office hours and are downloading files that are harmful to government files. Some files are also confidential and might be affected or compromise should the government allow the purchase of the computers as second hand. I think that government should be able to control and clean all the computers before allowing the bidding and distribution of government computers.